Zurich attractions

Running along the east bank of the Limmat River, Limmatquai is a popular street for visitors, home to many restaurants, hotels, and shops. You will most likely find yourself somewhere on the street during your exploration of Old Town (Altstadt).

The Zurich Opera House (Opernhaus Zürich), one of the busiest classical music venues in the world, is a delight for both classical music lovers as well as architecture enthusiasts. Opened in 1891, the building was designed by Viennese architects and incorporates neoclassical and rococo styles.

Lake Walen (Walensee is a lake in eastern Switzerland, separating the cantons Glarus and St. Gallen. It is part of a region known as Heidiland, which is named after the famous story by Johanna Spyri. The mountains rise almost vertically on all sides of the lake, and nestled on little plateaus and along the shores are several traditional Swiss towns.

St. Peter’s Church (St. Peterskirche) is one of Zurich’s most distinctive landmarks. The building is a combination of the original 9th-century edifice, 13th-century additions, and 18th-century reconstructions. Its clock face is the largest in Europe, and its spire rises high above the surrounding buildings.

This 870-meter (2850 foot mountain southeast of central Zurich offers tourists and locals a relaxing break from the hustle and bustle of the city. Known for its striking Alpine panoramas, seasonal sports trails, and mountain-top restaurant, easy-to-access Uetliberg remains a must-visit on any Zurich itinerary.

With more than 380 species in themed exhibits that reflect native habitats, the Zurich Zoo is dedicated to the protection and public education of animals. The zoo works to mimic the natural environments of its wild occupants as closely as possible.

Just an hour north of Zurich, the lively medieval town of Schaffhausen is best known as the gateway to one of Switzerland’s most famous tourist attractions: Rhine Falls. The mighty waterfall is Europe’s largest, stretching 450 feet (137 meters) across the Rhine River and cascading from heights of up to 75 feet (23 meters).

Kunsthaus Zurich (also known as Zurich’s Museum of Art) is over a century old and contains more than 4,000 works of (mostly) European art making it one of the most important art collections in Switzerland. Works on display span the centuries, ranging from the medieval period to the 21st century.

The Botanical Garden (Botanischer Garten) is one of two botanical gardens in Zurich, both of which are operated by the University of Zurich. This nearly 15-acre (6-hectare) natural space sits on the outskirts of the city and is home to 9,000 species of plants from all over the world.

Zurich’s Museum Rietberg is the only museum in Switzerland dedicated to non-European art and displays art and artefacts from Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Oceania. Visit to see the collection’s roughly 23,000 objects, ranging from Mayan masks to contemporary art from the Congo, and 37,000 ethnographic photographs.

Stepping into Zurich’s Chinese Garden can feel like entering a different world. Gifted to the city by its twin-town Kunming, the garden draws on traditional Yunnan culture in its ponds, ornate pavilions, and winter flora. The temple garden is considered one of the best outside China and provides a welcome break from the bustle of Zurich.

The Rhône Glacier in the Swiss Alps is the source of the Rhône River, which travels through Switzerland and France into the Mediterranean Sea, and contributes to Lake Geneva. It’s estimated to be more than 10,000 years old. Visitors can view it from the outside and also walk inside the glacier.

The Adliswil-Felsenegg Cable Car was built in 1954 to connect the town of Adliswil to Stallikon, specifically the Albis mountain chain’s Felsenegg viewpoint. The cable cars and stations have undergone renovation since then. Now, the journey time to the top is five minutes, with departure intervals every 15 minutes.

The Dolderbahn rack railway whisks riders from the busy streets of Zurich into the upper reaches of Adlisberg Mountain in under six minutes. First opened in 1895, the line has long provided quick and easy access to Zurich’s scenic surrounds and remains a popular city escape route for hikers, joggers, and nature lovers in the region.

Lively bars, fondue restaurants, and souvenir kiosks converge in Zurich’s Niederdorf, a medieval district of cobbled streets that’s part of Zurich’s old town. Busy from morning to late at night, the area attracts a mix of architecture enthusiasts, shoppers, and partygoers, along with a stream of people-watchers who come to see them all in action.